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The YWCA of the City of New York (YWCA NYC) was started in 1858, based on an idea developed in London a few years earlier. Their mission was to provide a haven for young women — both U.S. and foreign-born — by offering safe housing and educational resources. The organization filled an important void in 19th Century New York and quickly grew.

Vintage Image of YWCA lifting YWCA of New York City Sign on Side of Building

In the 1870s, the YWCA NYC led the way in job training and initiated the first typewriting instruction for women, the first sewing machine classes and the first employment bureau for women. In 1912, the YWCA NYC expanded and built its own training center, with a residence and spacious meeting rooms, at 610 Lexington Avenue. In 1915, the YWCA bought the 610 Lexington Avenue building and opened the first public swimming pool in New York state. It housed the YWCA national offices, national board meeting rooms and residence facilities until 1980, and was the New York City headquarters until 2005.

With its historic mission to improve the welfare of girls and women who needed assistance with housing, job training, sex education classes, access to books, physical fitness, and friendship, and as a pioneer in race relations, labor union representation, and women’s health initiatives, the YWCA NYC soared to the forefront of most major movements.

Today’s YW is one of the oldest and largest membership organizations in the world. It is independently owned and operated, but connected to a global network of sister YWCAs that serve 25 million women in more than 100 countries.

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